Friday, September 22, 2006

This weekend New YorkUniversity’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies will host “100% Venezuela”, a film festival of movies from Venezuela.14 films will be shown from Thursday to Sunday as well as a Saturday morning symposium by 3 filmmakers on their experiences shooting in Venezuela. (The symposium will be in Spanish can be RSVPd by e-mailing jeg333@nyu.edu).

I just finished viewing a re-airing of the interview between Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and U.S. talk show host Charlie Roseand here are some the comments that were made:

On Latin America and Chavez’ speech to the U.N. General Assembly:

Bachelet emphasized the importance of Latin America in the world by noting the problems shared between Latin American countries and other regions of the world.Her role in the region is “how to resolve problems for the Latin American people.” She thought that the “words” in Chavez’ speech detracted from important topics like the need to eradicate poverty and inequality.

On democracy:

“I don’t think anybody could have imagined a women president for Chile” and this is an example of how Chile has developed into a democracy.Still, democracy in Chile “is a process that we have to deal with everyday… (with) the most important challenge…is to guarantee security” for all Chileans.

On Augusto Pinochet and Chile’s past:

Bachelet said that “we have learned from our history…when we unite for a common cause.” She dismissed the perceived political influence of ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet (“nobody is thinking of Pinochet today”). Yet she acknowledged that she has learned to channel whatever “rage and anger” from her father’s death at the hands of the Pinochet regime into doing whatever she can to insure that “never again” will Chile go through such a dark period.

On the U.S.:

Bachelet admitted that the bilateral free trade agreement with the U.S. is “positive” for Chile and feels that both counries are working “in the right direction.” Also, she noted that “there is a view of Latin America (in the U.S. media) that does not reflect the reality in Latin America” as a result of “Cold War language” that oversimplifies complex issues into mere black-and-white topics.

On globalization

Bachelet observed the fallacy of neoliberalism (via the Washington Consensus) when economic development takes precedent over social development. However, she did not condemn globalization as a “threat” in that it must be used as “benefit” via economic, social, and political development.

On terrorism:

“Terrorism is something we all have to fight…but we need to fight terrorism with legal means” such as denouncing torture.One of the “better remedies” to combat terrorism would be to have “a truly democratic state” that provides “opportunities and possibilities” for all its citizens.

León Roldós once comfortable lead in the race for Ecuador’s president has shrunk to a statistical tie with his closest rival, Rafael Correa.Ex-vice president Roldós (image) lost ground according to a poll released on Tuesday and is only 1% ahead of Correa, an economist, with Election Day coming up on October 15.

Update (24 September): What a difference a few days make- the latest poll numbers show Correa, a supposed "friend of firebrand Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez", leads Roldós by 8%!

Thursday, September 21, 2006

I just found out about this: Chilean president Michelle Bachelet will be interviewed on “The Charlie Rose Show” tonight. In New York City, the program airs at 11pm on channel 13; for other areas please check local listings.

Update (22 September)#1: If anybody viewed Bachelet's interview and have any quotes and/or comments about it please mention it in the comments to this post. In the meantime, this post from author Dave Cullen and this message board post from "The Charlie Rose Show" will have to suffice.

Update (22 September)#2: Fire up those TiVos and VCRs- if you are in the New York City area the interview will re-air today at 1:30pm on channel 13. Otherwise please check local listings.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

A U.S. - based sexual abuse survivors group filed a lawsuit against Mexican Cardinal Norberto Rivera yesterday. Rivera, who had once been a candidate to replace Pope John Paul II, allegedly helped cover up abuse by a reverend who may have molested as many as 60 people. In 2002, Cardinal Rivera accused the media of orchestrating a “campaign” against the U.S. Catholic Church.

Zapatista rebel leader Subcomandante Marcos said that the presidential election was stolen from left-wing candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.Though Marcos had been a staunch critic of Obrador, he remarked on Tuesday that Obrador’s lead was “clear and resounding” and that electoral fraud had not been “a thing of the past.”

While yesterday's speeches by George W. Bush and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) stole much of the spotlight several Latin American leaders spoke in front of the world body. Here is a brief synopsis of what some of them said:

Bolivian president Evo Morales (image) used a coca leaf as a prop during his speech which harshly criticized the “war on drugs” led by the U.S.“I invite the government of the United States to form a real alliance to combat drug trafficking and not just have excuses and pretexts to dominate us” said Morales who also spoke against neoliberal economic policies.

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasized “hunger” as the real threat to world security. He also criticized the U.S. military incursion into Iraq and touched on the need for the U.N. Security Council to be reformed.

Vicente Fox, president of Mexico, mentioned the perils of terrorism and emphasized the progress of democracy in Mexico(PDF document) without alluding to this year’s presidential debacle. Fox also urged countries to adopt international conventions on indigenous people and people with disabilities.

Costa Rican president Oscar Arias suggested an end to spending on arms since military spending fosters instability and also criticized the increase in military spending throughout Latin America. Arias also urged the need to uphold international law and trade liberalization by warning that without them “we condemn ourselves to walk on the edge of a cliff…descending like Sisyphus after every peak reached.”

Other Latin American leaders who spoke yesterday where the presidents of Honduras, Paraguay, and El Salvador (Spanish text, PDF document).

The alliance between the presidents of Iran and Venezuela became stronger as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Venezuela.Officials from both countries signed several agreements designed to boost bilateral trade, develop oil fields, and help Venezuela’s attempt at a U.N. Security Council seat.Both Ahmadinejad and Chavez used the opportunity to spread anti-U.S. vitriol including Chavez supporting Iran’s plans to expand its nuclear capacities.

Last week the Bush administration proposed a referendum for Cuba where Cubans would decide if their island should adopt a democratic government. Politicians in the U.S. and Latin America are split on the idea, including some from the president's own political party.